The Boilers Bill, 2024 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on August 8 by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. It aims to replace the Boilers Act, 1923.

Last week, the Union Cabinet had approved repealing of the existing Boilers Act, 1923 and introduction of Boilers Bill, 2024 in the Parliament.

What is a boiler? 

Boiler is a pressurised system in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporised fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications. Steam thus generated may be used directly as a heating medium, or as the working fluid in a prime mover to convert thermal energy to mechanical work, which in turn may be converted to electrical energy. Boilers find application in key industries sectors of oil and gas, power, steel, fertilizers, chemicals, cement, etc.

Why the govt plans new legislation?

• The Boilers Act, 1923 was enacted with the objective of ensuring uniformity throughout India in all technical aspects pertaining to the regulation of boilers. 

• This included standards of construction, maximum pressure specifications as well as the registration and periodic inspection of all boilers with particular focus on matters concerning the safety of life and property.

• Recently, the government of India has initiated a comprehensive examination of pre-Constitutional Acts to assess their relevance and suitability in the contemporary context. In this context, the 1923 Act was examined and it has been considered necessary to review the provisions of the Act. 

• As a result, it is felt necessary to remove redundant or obsolete provisions, introduce certain substantive provisions to enable framing of the rules and regulations that were previously lacking and to define certain terms and expressions. 

• These modifications aim to enhance the clarity of the provisions of the Bill. 

• Therefore, it is considered necessary to repeal the 1923 Act and for that purpose. 

• The new Bill seeks to provide for the regulation of the manufacture and use of boilers, ensuring the safety of life and property of persons from the danger of explosions of boilers. 

• It further prohibits the use of unregistered and uncertified boilers, mandates reporting of accidents and promotes uniformity in the registration and inspection processes throughout the manufacturing, erection and use of the boilers in the country. 

• The Bill also proposes independent third-party inspecting authorities for inspection and certification purposes. 

• For ease of doing business, the Bill will benefit boiler users including those in the MSME sector as provisions related to the decriminalisation have been incorporated.

• Out of the seven offences, to ensure safety of boilers and personnel dealing with boilers, in four major offences which may result in loss of life and property, criminal penalties are retained.

• For other offences, provision is being made for fiscal penalty. For all non-criminal offences ‘fine’ has been converted into ‘penalty’ to be levied through executive mechanism instead of courts as existed earlier.

• Further redundant or obsolete provisions have been omitted.

• The proposed Bill will enhance safety as specific provisions have been made in the Bill to ensure the safety of persons working inside a boiler and that repair of boiler is undertaken by qualified and competent persons.

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